Urgent Action Alert: The Leahy Bill is BACK!

We fear that the vague language and ten-year jail term in the bill will be misused by the FDA to threaten innocent natural health food and dietary supplement producers. Please take action to amend or stop it.

Last year’s bill to increase criminal penalties for “misbranding” or “adulterating” foods from a maximum of one year in jail to a maximum of ten has been reintroduced. The problem lies in how these terms are defined. And the bill’s on a fast track.

In the previous session of Congress, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced S.3767, the Food Safety Accountability Act. We opposed the bill, in part because it established fines and/or imprisonment for up to ten years if one were to:

(1) introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any food that is adulterated or misbranded; or

(2) adulterate or misbrand any food in interstate commerce.

The big sticking points were the way FDA defines “adulterated” or “misbranded,” and the fact that the bill originally didn’t require there be any intent to harm—so that a paperwork error could be treated just as harshly as a corporation that knowingly sells tainted food.

Working with Congressional leaders, we were successful in getting the language changed so that “with conscious or reckless disregard of a risk of death or serious bodily injury” was included. This wasn’t perfect, since the FDA could claim any intent it wants to—better to require actual harm of at least some kind. And the problematic “adulterated” or “misbranded” terminology remained. Fortunately our readers and others took action and the bill died.

Now the bill has been re-introduced in the Senate as S.216. The language is better. First, the jail term now is for violators of specific sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) who knowingly and intentionally defraud or mislead and do so with conscious or reckless disregard of a risk of death or serious bodily injury. And second, the jail term applies to food violations, which the Senate Judiciary staff confirmed with ANH-USA would in this instance exclude dietary supplements, although based on their past behavior the FDA may not interpret it that way.

In addition to the risk that the FDA will interpret this bill in whatever way it wishes, a risk that could be fixed with more explicit language, there is a further major problem.

“Adulterated or misbranded”

The bill hangs on the “adulterated or misbranded” language in the FD&C Act, language that is so vague as to be absurd. To our ears, “misbranded” suggests deliberate misstatements about the contents or efficacy of a product. But in the FD&C Act, “misbranding” (section 403) takes on a completely different meaning. It can mean that the producer makes a completely true statement about the product but without FDA permission.

The Act specifically says that misbranding has occurred if a claim is made on the food label, which characterizes the relationship of a nutrient to a disease or a health-related condition. Here’s an example: research from Harvard suggested that cherries could reduce heart attack risk. FDA did not allow cherry producers, sellers, or manufacturers to talk about that research, and sent a cease-and-desist letter to twenty-nine companies telling them to stop making claims about these health benefits or face fines and jail. At least in this instance, the FDA could not threaten a ten-year jail sentence.

Only after a food or ingredient is taken through the New Drug Approval process can a manufacturer educate consumers about the potential of the supplement or food to prevent or treat disease. This is an expensive process—and since food and dietary supplements are natural they cannot be patent protected, which means manufacturers could never hope to recoup the millions (sometimes billions) of dollars necessary to go through the NDA process. Food manufacturers cannot even cite legitimate peer-reviewed science on their website without being guilty of misbranding—and thus subject to up to ten years in prison.

The other word is “adulterated.” To most people, it means that a product doesn’t meet good manufacturing practices, that the supplement itself is somehow tainted or injurious to health, or contains an ingredient that presents a significant risk of illness. But under the FD&C Act, “adulteration (section 402)” says that a dietary supplement is considered adulterated if it does not follow “current good manufacturing practices” (CGMPs)—which are extremely broad, even containing such minor provisions as record-keeping practices. In other words, the FDA could threaten a ten-year jail sentence for minor paperwork errors if the agency took the position that the bill did apply to supplements.

Would the FDA actually try to send someone to jail for ten years, using the new bills’ expanded jail time, for citing science or for paperwork errors? As unlikely as it might seem, the Agency’s past behavior suggests that they would at least threaten it to get food or supplement producers to sign draconian consent decrees.

Where do we go from here?

We would support the Leahy bill if an amendment is offered which addresses its current vagueness and which also carves out certain exemptions in the definition of misbranding and adulteration, or better yet, defines them anew instead of referring to the extremely broad and vague FD&C Act.

We fear that the vague language and ten-year jail term in the bill will be misused by the FDA to threaten innocent natural health food and dietary supplement producers.Please contact your senators immediately and ask them to amend or stop this bill.

TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

Click THIS LINKto go to the Action Alert page. Once there, fill out the form with your name and address, etc., and customize your letter. We have a suggested message for you, but please feel free to add your own comments to the letter.

We’d also love to hear your comments about this article—just add your thoughts below—but remember that the messages below are only seen by our ANH-USA readers and not Congress, the FDA, etc.

It is obvious what is happening in America – the huge corporations are running the government. The freedoms that made America what it is are being taken away and anything that threatens these huge corporations are being eliminated – health freedom, vaccine choice, energy, food and Monsanto, etc etc etc. This is the agenda of the Republican party and what is happening is the downfall of America and everything it USED to be. We have totally sold-out to anyone and anything with money. The system is broke and not being addressed and the people are getting poor as the top 2% of the people control the wealth. The voice of the people are ignored and the so-called democracy does not exist and never did. America is DONE and in the toilet and we have the politicians to thank for that for being corporate whores. God Bless America and pass the ammo! We have nothing ahead but a spiral downfall.

Susan Hornbach

Hey Paul, I agree with you except everything is not the Republiacan party’s fault. Everything is the fault of all political parties, the selfishness , and greed of big business, and the unwillingness of Americans to consume less, and take action. As long as people follow big pharma like little sheep led to slauter, and continue to accept the food conditions that are being forced upon us, then we will continue to self distruct. We devastate other parts of the world with our consumtion of diamaonds that cause great suffering for others, oil is used for vertually everything, and causes wars in other parts of the world, Most Americans are unaware and really don’t care to be aware of what suffering they cause with their fancy dimond, and hi-tec whatever in other parts of the world. Most Americans just want to consume and buy the next thing on TV that grabs their attention. Corruption in this country is ramped. Blamming everyone else for what we do personally is irresponsible. We the people have the power to stand and change anything we wish. We all need to stand against, speak out, write out letters, do without some products, and say this is what I’m doing for my country. Never mind the political parties. We all have the power to vote them out. It’s the big business that rulles all, including what you think, by soaking your brain with their propaganda. The FDA needs to be dismantled. The big pharma needs to know that our govenment is not going to stand for any more medicines that poison us wi th side effects; that natural medicines will be condsidered first, before any half ass drug they have concocted. There is room enough for both medicines, but our government, both Democrats and Republicans, are so intent on taking that money from big pharma, and it’s a lot of money, that they just allow people to die everyday from the wrong cancer treatments because the FDA won’t approve the good ones that are natural, and also, the downward spirlal a person’ health takes because of several pharma drugs at one time. This country will not make it in the future unless the people stand and fight for what they need. They need to be educated in these areas, so they can demand better health care and demand that there are no altered chemicals grown right into their fresh vegetables an fruits. For God sake, You can’t even wash off the pesticides now because they are geneticlaly grown into your foods. Americans should Wake up! I actually have people who tell me that pestasides in the food is a good thing. If Americans don’t get their heads out of the sand, they will all eventually sufficate themselves. It’s getting people to see the light, that is the problem here, not one political party or another.

Anna

I agree. Unfortunately, I think all our letters fall on deaf ears. We need help from a higher power…..maybe the Mayan 2012 prediction may help our cause.

I am very concerned about the conduct of the FDA. 25 years ago, the FDA had approved a chicken feed product containing arsenic. In addition, chicken that use the arsenic will pass stools that contain arsenic that will get into waste water. It eventually gets into drinking water. I have just purchased a water filter system that removes the arsenic from drinking water. The bill should focus on the misconduct of the FDA to protect the consumer from poisoning from eating chickens grown on arsenic containing chicken feed, or paying for the filtering system to remove arsenic in waste water. It will cost our country billions of dollars. It is a crisis in healthcare with arsenic poisoning. Its important to point out that the department of agriculture will not allow any poultry meat that is fed with arsenic chicken feed to be labeled as organic. The middle class and rich can afford the organic food, but the poor will resort to eating the dangerous poultry food containing arsenic. A citizen’s petition has already been sent once to the FDA to ban the use of chicken feed containing arsenic, but it was not passed by the FDA. It is time for a change in FDA Management.

Natural food is without msg ,sodium and all the other things that go into canned and processed food. I dare the medical people at FDA or Dept of Agriculture to say that there is not a positive link between these foods and cancer. Let natural food alone!

Norma

Your clarification of terms was very enlightening – and discouraging. Thanks, Norma

The Pharmaceutical industry kills one person in three every minute and these are with the medications taken as directed.
It is corrupt and only in the business to make a profit, not to heal.
the majority of drugs have deadly side effects, are indiscriminately prescribed and have blocked alternatives that are safer, more economical, with no negative results.
Drug companies have corrupted government with their bribes, lobbyists and profiteering. No one of you care for the health and well-being of Americans, you merely care about $$$$$, are infected with hubris and do great harm! Shame on you…..only God can forgive you…maybe….

Bernard Horvath

the Leahy Bill

I fear that the vague language and ten-year jail term in the bill will be misused by the FDA to threaten innocent natural health food and dietary supplement producers. Please take action to amend or stop it.

Julie

Don’t fear that the langguage in the leahy bill will be misused by the fda. Know that it will.
the fda only cares about $$$$ it doesn’t care about wether it kills people or not.

richard fertal II

Don’t we have more pressing issues to deal with in this country than to go after the health food industry? I mean come on what a cop pout as far as dealing with the fundamentals of our economy. Surely Mr. Leahy can do something more productive with his time!!!!

Jeff LaCour

good job

William R. Schumacher

Drop the Leahy bill! Hands off alternative medicine.

Dottie Macfee

The government is in everything and doing a crappy job, I might add. One more freedom of
choosing the supplements we want without a prescription, you want to take away?
I think this bill is way over the top and needs to be killed. I can’t believe you keep bringing
this up over and over. Do you think you can just slip it by? What kind of a pay off are you
getting? The people of this country want to purchase their own supplements without the cost
going way off the roof. You pass this bill and we will all pay for this with bad health and
live in pain for the rest of our lives. I know so many people who have such great health
because of supplements. You wish to take that away from the millions of people who enjoy
good health? Have you ever been sick and have a health issue? Kill the bill. Kill this bill. NOW.

wvhillbilly

As usual it looks like the pharmaceuticals and the FDA want to get rid of all competition by any and all means possible. I would say a congressional investigation is in order, but I’m afraid some of our congress people are so in the thrall of political campaign contributions (thinly veiled bribes in my estimation) from drug lobbyists that nothing would ever get done.

Bhanu Harrison

Please make this bill more clear.

Virginia Eagan

IT is outrageous that the FDA is pushing this bill when it has allowed GMO-foods on the shelves of grocery stores and markets all over AMERICA for YEARS. Where is the standard for GMO Labeling and how about the FDA deciding what is orgainic and what is not when they keep changing the regulations? This is hypocrisy at best.

Lynda

I totally agree…it is outrageous that the FDA would even remotely consider this bill when
they have allowed and still allow the total mutilation of healthy food by GE Foods
and Monsanto to come to our tables daily. The FDA should be disbanded and replaced
with concerned citizens who cannot be bought off by GE & Monsanto. It is shameful!

David Shelton

Excellent point/

Jesus Gil

sounds like somebody is on a extermination mission….

peter buttolph

Thank you for the education.

susan lord, md

So you think that GMO foods would be considered adulterated?

David Shelton

Would you prefer to eat food that has been eaten by people for millenia, and thus proven safe, or would you rather trust scientists on the payroll of mega food corporations to ‘invent’ and ‘own’ our food supply through genetic manipulation? Are they smarter than nature? Problems are already surfacing with the quality of gm crops, with their viability, with cross pollination contamination, and numerous other concerns. Are you content with giant corporations owning and controlling our food supply, while decimating the often superior heirloom crops? So yes, GMO foods contaminate/adulterate normal crops.

Violet Sunderland

Short of completely reorganizing FDA, the general public’s only recourse is to actively monitor that entity’s actions and not allow it to ignore or compromise anything that is in the best interests of the population as a whole.

Todd Martin

Vague and indefinite terminology never belongs in any law. “Misbranding” and “Adulterated” as defined in S 216″ scream for clarity – true clarity. That is what this bill cries for, and why all of us are protesting this bill in its present form. Total nonambirguity will permit passage of this. Thee are those who do not want this. They cannot be allowed to prevail.

More allegedly well-meaning legislation we don’t need. It’s probably a power grab egged on by special interests that either do not appear on the national radar or are operating in ways that have not yet made an impression on the national radar. .

carole hagen

Make this awesome for all of us—THANKS!

Rob Karnuth

The U.S. CONGRESS has to understand people like myself to CHOOSE HEALTH and not sickness. The U.S. CONGRESS also must understand people are getting older such as myself and we are not push over middle aged folks. I have a B.A. and working on my MASTER’S Degree. It all begins with EDUCATION. I sell on commission only HEALTH PRODUCTS. If I don’t sell, I starve, bills aren’t paid and then I am in trouble. So, to convince American buying public we send them to our website and let them make up their mind. Our company has been around for over twenty years. We are pros and we have our own plantation in the Amazon Rain forest.We have many medical doctors quietly suggesting our products instead of pharmaceutical dangerous drugs that do serious damage to tissues and living organs in our bodies. Politically, I will fight till the day I die against BIG PHARMA DRUG COMPANIES. Big Pharma doesn’t stand a fighting chance against a smart well educated american public.

Pete Mare

Prior to March 11th, these efforts to have the FDA become more responsible was a worthy goal. The FDA should have been investigated for its policy on “Black Box Warnings” and keeping HFCS & Aspertame in all foods even though the side effects of these two chemicals are causing overall declining health. The problem now is Cessium 137. The Beta & Gamma rays have a 30 year half life. If you compare the 8″ pipe leaking 10 barrels per second to a meltdown that sprays a 30 year half life across the Northern Hemisphere. A 30 year half life that concentrates the radiation up the food chain. Smaller fish eaten by larger fish, and finally by us. DDT was destroying eagles by weakening the egg shells. You can get rid of DDT. Cessium, uncontroled, can’t be stopped. We must all take CoEnzyme Q10 and Ubiquinol to give Oxygen to every cell in the body. Cancer cannot grow in a cell that has Oxygen. This Alliance must focus on truth in levels of actural radiation and the flow patterns. Some restaurants in NY are testing all food supplies. All the rules are changed since March 11th. New Priorities have to be established.

Robert Cannon

Very good article and I cannot believe they keep pushing these idiotic bills. Big pharma at work again.

Marilyn Chiarello

So, does this mean that it will be illegal to put GMOs into my food?

Jack

I rewrote the first three paragraphs of the boilerplate action letter to enhance effect; knowing that staff answering mail don’t know any more about an issue than their boss want them to know. May give them something to think about.

While I am pleased to see new language in Senator Leahy’s bill, S.216, it still needs work. What sticks in my mind is the fact that even though food violations such as the Peanut Corporation of America salmonella debacle, among others; willful violators did not get any jail time called for under present law. That said, what good will it do if the corporate violators get no jail time when they should have been prosecuted to the full extent of the present law? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/us/29Peanut.html

Beyond that, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who oversees Food and Drug Administration funding said, “Not only did this company knowingly sell tainted products, it shopped for a laboratory that would provide the acceptable results they were seeking. This behavior represents the worst of our current food safety regulatory system.” http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-01-27-peanut-salmonella_N.htm Now this seems curious to me knowing that Monsanto, as well as, chemical and drug companies routinely hide unacceptable results to gain FDA and USDA approval for questionable products. Is this not ‘knowingly and intentionally defrauding or misleading and doing so with conscious or reckless disregard of a risk of death or serious bodily injury’?

I am concerned that, in this new bill, the ten-year jail term is reserved for violators of specific sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) who knowingly and intentionally defraud or mislead and do so with conscious or reckless disregard of a risk of death or serious bodily injury. While the jail term applies only to food violations; and the Senate Judiciary staff says that it would exclude dietary supplements, the language in the bill does not explicitly say so, and the FDA (based on their past behavior) may not interpret it that way. Explicit language to clarify the situation would be helpful to keep the FDA on point.

“‘I do,’ Alice hastily replied; ‘at least – at least I mean what I say – that’s the same thing, you know.’

‘Not the same thing a bit!’ said the Hatter. ‘You might just as well say that “I see what I eat“ is the same thing as “I eat what I see“!’” ~Lewis Carrol. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

David

LEAHY SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THE BUDGET AND DEBT!! FIX THE REAL PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF CREATING MORE THAT AREN’T THERE. STUPID POLITICIANS…

Sarah Diggins

There are lots of people around the world who would like to support you with this but are unable to since the form requires us to say which state we live in. I live in Spain – how can I support you? I want to!

Hi Sarah, unfortunately our legislators do not accept messages except from their own constituents. They are constitutionally charged to represent the interests of the people in their district or state, rather than other districts, states, or countries. Please keep an eye out for alerts which ask you to send letters to the FDA as they do not have the same limitations and can accept messages from anywhere.

The Leahy bill only serves to reinforce the belief that the FDA is the governmentally funded “goon squad” of pharmaceutical companies’ and large corporations’ investment. Please do NOT endorse legislation that targets small business owners and forces them out of business with carefully massaged permission to eliminate knowledgeable competition.

This article is just too convoluted in my opinion, and I do follow this stuff regularly. A better version is needed that can summarize the larger issue in readable terms for the uninformed and under-informed, or at least a link for background info. I usually share your news on Facebook, but this one does not seem compelling. It is urgent to educate people about the larger issue of Big Pharma deciding what health care should look like and what it should cost.
I will go the action page of course….
Thanks for your good work.

Drina Brooke

in The Land of the Free, free speech is a legal right as well as a God-given, “Self evident” one. This rush to jail people for manufacturing supplements and making any (true, scientifically proven) claims is an unconstituational crack-down on free speech, on freedom of health choices, and sounds more like Red China than The United States of America.

The Government Of the Corporations, By the Corporations and For the Corporations was never signed into law by our Founding Fathers. This crackdown is clearly corporate in interest, and is itself far more unconstitutional/illegal than any so-called “violation” by supplement manufacturers. It’s time for this dictatorship, on our dime, to stop.

Dennis Oberholtzer

Everyone is absolutely against this Leahy Bill. Whoever comes up with this stuff is a bunch of educated idiots, lacking all common sense.

Kathryn Weicker

This is Government at it’s worst. PLEASE stop this bill!!!!!

David Shelton

Is this bill really necessary? Or is it designed to disempower us and empower the corporations? I say get rid of it and forget about it, unless it considers GMOs as a major problem and outlaws them, which won’t happen near term. It will take a Japanese style disaster brought about by this technology before people wake up and demand the withdrawal of these crops from the market, if only because of excessive corporate greed.

There are more important issues than making it difficult for organic farms. Do something worthwhile, Congress.

Ogre

Send your congersman a letter from “The Society for Selective Genocide” or somesuch (easy enough with even an antique printer) encouraging him (her) to vote for this because it will kill a lot of stupid people.

If we can make the politicians believe that there are “secret societies” forming as the result of their incursions into our freedoms and that they will be excluded from access to “secrets’, we will win.

GB

It appears the FDA is run by Monsanto so they need to keep their hands off our natural foods and supplements.

anonymous

When people stood up en masse behind the former Iron Curtain to protest the dictatorship, it fell. We always think we have no power, and perhaps in small groups, we don’t. But as a mass, we certainly do. Let’s spread word virally, and thanks for all your help!

map1131

Leahy is Democrat that is leading the charge here. So how does this point to the Republicans?
It’s best to see who is filling whose pockets with money? Only group I know that has that much money is big PRAMA. I’ve had it with FDA, CDC, NIH trying to tell us how, who, what, where and why. They (our gov) must think we are a bunch of idiots that can’t take care of ouselves. These agencies are deceptive, lying, coniving, self serving, greedy, law breaking head hunting groups.
It is a shame what has happened to our leadership in this country. That’s NOT all of the men and women that serve in political office. There are some honest, no pork bellies, leaders that can make a difference. They are just in minority. It’s time to clean up the majority again come November. We can no longer let our country be run into the pit of hell and evil. I don’t care if he/she is Republican or Democrat…..if I think your gig is up and you are not looking out for the good of our nation and I suspect you are only out to help you, your party or your pork….I’m going to help send you home to wallow.

spencer payne

You are all correct. Big Pharma is the culprit and the law makers are their whores. Not all mind you but most, and it is really difficult for the good ones to come forward and do good as they shirk their duty for $$. Too bad. The bad ones make the good ones look just as complicit.

So yes the answer lies with us the citizens but will we do something or just sit at the computer ranting at a faceless entity. What can we do?? Vote in blocks, if not for someone decent as they are mostly part of the problem, then against those that flagrantly violate their oaths: To serve the people well and do not harm them. We pay them quite well to do so and this is what we get folks. A conglomeration of claptrap posing as a bill to keep us from harm.

So do something for US congress, the Right Thing.

Thanks for reading this rant.

Spencer

dave h

we keep saying how bad some of these blls are but we keep voting for these clowns time after time every one of these politicans who put bills like this should be be voted out of office no matter what party they represent its time to start voting on whats right not what party your with otherwise nothing will ever change

Dorothy M

When are the American people going to wake up? Or, even if awake, what can we do about the ugly mess we are in up to our necks? Have you looked at an ad on TV for one of Big Pharma’s “cures?” “Take our antidepressant and you will feel great….BUT there is a possibility that you will become more depressed and if you start having more thoughts about suicide, maybe you better see you doctor and stop taking the pill (which you have already paid for.). Or, be careful this pill may cause cancer, or some other major debilitating disease.”

But we are not allowed to be told that fruit, or any foods grown naturally without any additives, may prevent or, in the case of vitamins and minerals, even stop or cure major diseases. It’s a sin!

I agree with those who say that our congressmen and women are in bed with big pharma as is the FDA and many other government agencies. By buying those drugs because we trust our doctors, we are only helping their cause. Many times the doctor is pushing the drug because he is getting paid by, not necessarily cash, but gifts and vacations.

Basically it all comes back to our representatives in government. My answer is that if ANY elected person in government makes a promise to vote one way only to get elected and then does a turn around after elected, he should be kicked out IMMEDIATELY … not four or six years down the road when his/her term runs out. He only gets more years to lie, cheat and take more $$$ from lobbyists. That should hold true for anyone being paid by we the people.

God help us! Our government certainly isn’t!

Kathryn Profera

I am very disappointed that it is a Democrat sponsoring this bill and helping out the big Pharmaceutical Corporations against the Health Food and Organic industries. Jailing a health food employee or manager for 10 years? Are we now living in a Fascist society where we, intelligent people, who carefully chose our natural supplements and prescriptions, can’t research and read for ourselves? And then to be jailed because we chose what we feel is our ‘freedom of choice’ for our health needs? Where will this end with the FDA? They can’t protect cats from tainted Chinese cat food, children from Chinese lead based painted toys, vegetables grown with pesticides in foreign countries, but they will jail health food providers?
People wake up! The government is eating away at every right of individuals in this free? country while Monsanto and other big corporations are lobbying it to do so by ‘lining the pockets’ these Senators!

Sadly, we get the government (and thereby the agencies) that we deserve. Until more than 15-18% of the people turn out to vote, we will continue to get sub-standard officials, because the American public does not stand up and take back their government.

The ‘good’ (not really, but read on) thing about this blatant disregard for the safety of the American public is that sooner or later (hopefully sooner), something will happen that will tip the balance and make people wake up to what is happening. Then we will see a trend towards greater health, rather than towards cheaper more processed foods.

We *can* change this. We outnumber the corporations and the government. There are over 400 *million* Americans. If we truly wish to change this, we can, but it will take *numbers* and action.

Speak up, early and often. Vote with your pocketbook. Buy local and organic. If enough people stop purchasing the processed crap, then changes will happen. If no one uses GMO products, it will not be profitable to use them.

Corporations, the government and the FDA are driven by profit. The most effective method of getting their attention, and to force them to change, is to negatively impact their profits. Do that enough, in great enough amounts, and we get what we want. But it must be consistent, concerted effort to avoid *all* processed food, *all* GMO products, *all* dangerous Big Pharma products, etc. Until we’re willing to spend more money, and commit to avoiding ‘convenient’ foods and meds, nothing will happen.

We need Jamie Oliver’s FOOD REVOLUTION to be advirtised more and more on TV—so it reaches more and more people to hear that something CAN be done to stop this if we join together and demand people eat better—because it is PROOVEN that it has a very direct effect on your health. People need to hear this, learn this, be aware of the truth and direct coorelations between the KIND of food you are putting in your body and your health….. People need to ask themselves….gee –WHY has Cancer been on the rise continuously over the years !!!???? Gee, ya think it could be all the garbage most Americans are eating!!!! Not a truer statement then— YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR—- Buy less food, but better quality food and maybe, just maybe you can afford it!!!! Can’t use the excuse—oh, I can’t afford to buy organic—— In my opionion—-you can’t afford NOT TO!!!

Sadly, we get the government (and thereby the agencies) that we deserve. Until more than 15-18% of the people turn out to vote, we will continue to get sub-standard officials, because the American public does not stand up and take back their government.

The ‘good’ (not really, but read on) thing about this blatant disregard for the safety of the American public is that sooner or later (hopefully sooner), something will happen that will tip the balance and make people wake up to what is happening. Then we will see a trend towards greater health, rather than towards cheaper more processed foods.

We *can* change this. We outnumber the corporations and the government. There are over 400 *million* Americans. If we truly wish to change this, we can, but it will take *numbers* and action.

Speak up, early and often. Vote with your pocketbook. Buy local and organic. If enough people stop purchasing the processed crap, then changes will happen. If no one uses GMO products, it will not be profitable to use them.

Corporations, the government and the FDA are driven by profit. The most effective method of getting their attention, and to force them to change, is to negatively impact their profits. Do that enough, in great enough amounts, and we get what we want. But it must be consistent, concerted effort to avoid *all* processed food, *all* GMO products, *all* dangerous Big Pharma products, etc. Until we’re willing to spend more money, and commit to avoiding ‘convenient’ foods and meds, nothing will happen.

Sadly, we get the government (and thereby the agencies) that we deserve. Until more than 15-18% of the people turn out to vote, we will continue to get sub-standard officials, because the American public does not stand up and take back their government.

The ‘good’ (not really, but read on) thing about this blatant disregard for the safety of the American public is that sooner or later (hopefully sooner), something will happen that will tip the balance and make people wake up to what is happening. Then we will see a trend towards greater health, rather than towards cheaper more processed foods.

We *can* change this. We outnumber the corporations and the government. There are over 400 *million* Americans. If we truly wish to change this, we can, but it will take *numbers* and action.

Speak up, early and often. Vote with your pocketbook. Buy local and organic. If enough people stop purchasing the processed crap, then changes will happen. If no one uses GMO products, it will not be profitable to use them.

Corporations, the government and the FDA are driven by profit. The most effective method of getting their attention, and to force them to change, is to negatively impact their profits. Do that enough, in great enough amounts, and we get what we want. But it must be consistent, concerted effort to avoid *all* processed food, *all* GMO products, *all* dangerous Big Pharma products, etc. Until we’re willing to spend more money, and commit to avoiding ‘convenient’ foods and meds, nothing will happen.

Sadly, we get the government (and thereby the agencies) that we deserve. Until more than 15-18% of the people turn out to vote, we will continue to get sub-standard officials, because the American public does not stand up and take back their government.

The ‘good’ (not really, but read on) thing about this blatant disregard for the safety of the American public is that sooner or later (hopefully sooner), something will happen that will tip the balance and make people wake up to what is happening. Then we will see a trend towards greater health, rather than towards cheaper more processed foods.

We *can* change this. We outnumber the corporations and the government. There are over 400 *million* Americans. If we truly wish to change this, we can, but it will take *numbers* and action.

Speak up, early and often. Vote with your pocketbook. Buy local and organic. If enough people stop purchasing the processed crap, then changes will happen. If no one uses GMO products, it will not be profitable to use them.

Corporations, the government and the FDA are driven by profit. The most effective method of getting their attention, and to force them to change, is to negatively impact their profits. Do that enough, in great enough amounts, and we get what we want. But it must be consistent, concerted effort to avoid *all* processed food, *all* GMO products, *all* dangerous Big Pharma products, etc. Until we’re willing to spend more money, and commit to avoiding ‘convenient’ foods and meds, nothing will happen.

Sadly, we get the government (and thereby the agencies) that we deserve. Until more than 15-18% of the people turn out to vote, we will continue to get sub-standard officials, because the American public does not stand up and take back their government.

The ‘good’ (not really, but read on) thing about this blatant disregard for the safety of the American public is that sooner or later (hopefully sooner), something will happen that will tip the balance and make people wake up to what is happening. Then we will see a trend towards greater health, rather than towards cheaper more processed foods.

We *can* change this. We outnumber the corporations and the government. There are over 400 *million* Americans. If we truly wish to change this, we can, but it will take *numbers* and action.

Speak up, early and often. Vote with your pocketbook. Buy local and organic. If enough people stop purchasing the processed crap, then changes will happen. If no one uses GMO products, it will not be profitable to use them.

Corporations, the government and the FDA are driven by profit. The most effective method of getting their attention, and to force them to change, is to negatively impact their profits. Do that enough, in great enough amounts, and we get what we want. But it must be consistent, concerted effort to avoid *all* processed food, *all* GMO products, *all* dangerous Big Pharma products, etc. Until we’re willing to spend more money, and commit to avoiding ‘convenient’ foods and meds, nothing will happen.

Sadly, we get the government (and thereby the agencies) that we deserve. Until more than 15-18% of the people turn out to vote, we will continue to get sub-standard officials, because the American public does not stand up and take back their government.

The ‘good’ (not really, but read on) thing about this blatant disregard for the safety of the American public is that sooner or later (hopefully sooner), something will happen that will tip the balance and make people wake up to what is happening. Then we will see a trend towards greater health, rather than towards cheaper more processed foods.

We *can* change this. We outnumber the corporations and the government. There are over 400 *million* Americans. If we truly wish to change this, we can, but it will take *numbers* and action.

Speak up, early and often. Vote with your pocketbook. Buy local and organic. If enough people stop purchasing the processed crap, then changes will happen. If no one uses GMO products, it will not be profitable to use them.

Corporations, the government and the FDA are driven by profit. The most effective method of getting their attention, and to force them to change, is to negatively impact their profits. Do that enough, in great enough amounts, and we get what we want. But it must be consistent, concerted effort to avoid *all* processed food, *all* GMO products, *all* dangerous Big Pharma products, etc. Until we’re willing to spend more money, and commit to avoiding ‘convenient’ foods and meds, nothing will happen.

Sadly, we get the government (and thereby the agencies) that we deserve. Until more than 15-18% of the people turn out to vote, we will continue to get sub-standard officials, because the American public does not stand up and take back their government.

The ‘good’ (not really, but read on) thing about this blatant disregard for the safety of the American public is that sooner or later (hopefully sooner), something will happen that will tip the balance and make people wake up to what is happening. Then we will see a trend towards greater health, rather than towards cheaper more processed foods.

We *can* change this. We outnumber the corporations and the government. There are over 400 *million* Americans. If we truly wish to change this, we can, but it will take *numbers* and action.

Speak up, early and often. Vote with your pocketbook. Buy local and organic. If enough people stop purchasing the processed crap, then changes will happen. If no one uses GMO products, it will not be profitable to use them.

Corporations, the government and the FDA are driven by profit. The most effective method of getting their attention, and to force them to change, is to negatively impact their profits. Do that enough, in great enough amounts, and we get what we want. But it must be consistent, concerted effort to avoid *all* processed food, *all* GMO products, *all* dangerous Big Pharma products, etc. Until we’re willing to spend more money, and commit to avoiding ‘convenient’ foods and meds, nothing will happen.

We, the people, can change. But first we must change.

Dave Buckingham

The note I sent went only to my senators so it won’t do anything to stop my representatives from passing the same bogus legislation. Please correct this emailing problem.